Air conditioning apparatus



Nov. 29, 1949 E. J. cANTlN 2,489,618

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed oct; 3, 1947 INVENTOR Euanw: J CA/v 7'/N Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Eugene Joseph Cantin, New York, N. Y.

Application October 3, 1947, Serial No. 777,679

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to air-conother purposes well known in the art.

The commonly practised method of screening .the air by means of air filters is objectionable for many reasons, prominent among which may be mentioned the short effective life of such :filters, which is limited by the clogging action of dust and dirt particles, the accumulation of which is rapid and results in greatly reducing and frequently shutting off the free passage of air through the filters, in a comparatively short time. There is also the labor and expense of maintenance, as the filters require constant attention or inspection and cleaning or renewal at frequent intervals and as such cleaning or renewal serves only temporarily to restore the effectiveness of the filters, they operate at reduced efficiency to the detriment of the system in which they are used for the greater portion of the time.

To avoid the above mentioned and other objections to the screening method of clearing an air stream, the present invention subjects the stream to the action of centrifugal force, by

which the suspended foreign matter is driven clear of the central or side area of the stream,

from which cleared area, clean air is obtainable in any quantity desired, without obstructing or otherwise interfering with the free passage and discharge of that portion of the air stream that is heavily charged with impurities.

Apparatus suitable for carrying the invention into effect is illustrated in the accompanying l drawing by a view in diagram but it will be understood that no limitations are intended by this showing other than are imposed by the appended claims.

Referrring now to the drawing, I indicates a .main tube or duct, which may be of any cross sectional form desired but is preferably circular .and is open at the ends for free continuous pas- ,sage through the same of a forced stream of air.

The inlet end 2 of the duct may be open and unobstructed or provided with fixed or movable ,slats, indicated at 3, as may be preferred.

From the inlet end inward throughout a portion of its length, the diameter of the duct is .suitably enlarged to provide a separation cham- .ber 4, of suitable dimensions, in which a power- 2 driven element 5 is mounted adjacent to the inlet.

The element 5 may be any conventional or well known form of fan, turbine or the like, electrically driven preferably and suitable for maintaining a continuous stream of air, moving at fairly high velocity, through the duct.

Projecting inward from the inner surface of the wall of the separation chamber, there is an air deflector 6, which may be of any well known or suitable form for giving the air a whirling motion to cause it to spiral through the chamber and this motion, plus the velocity of the stream, causes the dust and dirt particles contained in the passing air, to be centrifugally thrown outward, thus clearing the central area of the air stream of all foreign matter held in suspension.

The deflector here shown for purposes of illustration consists of a spiral flange of any suitable width and number of turns, secured to and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the wall of the separation chamber and while such -a deflector will give the air stream the required motion, any other well known form may be substituted, if preferred.

Axially aligned and projecting into the separation chamber, at a point beyond the deflector, there is a supply delivery duct 7, into the open end of which the clean air from the cleared area of the stream is continuously driven by the force of the blast through the main duct. The inlet end of the supply delivery duct 1, is of smaller diameter than the separation chamber and is supported in centered relation therein by means of radially disposed braces 8. The dust is extended through an opening 9 in the chamber wall, in which it is closely fitted and on to a distant point, as indicated at H), for delivery of the clean air for any of the various uses previously mentioned.

It will be noted, that in the operation above described, there will be no deposit or accumulation of dust or dirt particles in the main duct, as the continuous blast through the same has suflicient force to carry off the dust-laden air and discharge it at a distant point.

If the supply of clean air required exceeds the capacity of the apparatus above described, the supply may be increased by the addition of one or more auxiliary ducts, such as is indicated suitable point beyond the inlet, the duct is given particles contained in the air stream will be.

centrifugally thrown outward away from the common center of the curves or toward the curved wall 15, of greater radius, thus clearing the area of the stream around the opposite curved wall l4 of smaller radius.

Connected to form a continuation of the cleared area around the curved wall branched delivery duct I6, which takes up the clean air from this cleared area and, through the connection indicated at H, discharges it into the main supply delivery duct 1.

A dust trap is indicated atlB in the curved wall 15 of the-auxiliary duct II, the employment of which I is optional.

In operation, the blast of dust-laden air from the power-driven element 5, is continuously maintained through the larger diameter tube or duct l andinduces, by its ejector action, a flow of air through the auxiliary tube or duct H, which is connected to discharge into the exhaust of the larger tube.

The dust-laden air entering the separation chamber" at fairly high velocity, is whirled or spiralled through the same by the action of the deflector 6, causing the contained dirt particles to be thrown centrifugally outward, thus clearing the central area of the stream, from which the clean airis taken up by the supply delivery tube 1. The air surroundingthe clean air area and heavy with dirt particles, is driven through and ejected :from the-tube I by the force of the blast.

Dust-ladenair, drawn into the auxiliary tube by the blast through the main tube, enters at fairly high velocity between the two curved surfaces l4 and I5 and the dirt particles in the air are thrown centrifugally outward or away from the center of the curved formation, clearing an area in the air stream that is nearest the center,

from which clean air is taken up by the branched tube I5, and delivered to the'main supply tube 1. The air heavy with dirt particles is drawn through the auxiliary tube into the main tube by the blast maintained through the same and ejected with the exhaust from the outlet thereof.

By positioning the inlet end of the auxiliary duct within a room or other enclosed space, to

which clean air is supplied by the delivery duct, the room air will be kept in circulation, freshened and gradually renewed by being drawn through --the auxiliary duct as above described and the cle-anedportion of the flow will be returned to .the room with the air delivered by thesupply duct. The remainlng portion of the flow in the rforeign suspended'matter "is cleared from an area Id, there is a;

of a forced stream of air passing through the same and the force of the air blast is utilized to deliver the cleared air and to discharge the separated foreign matter as waste through separate outlets, an auxiliary supply duct provided with means for clearing contained foreign matter from an area of an air stream passing through the same and having separate outlet branches for the cleared air and the uncleared air, the. branch for, the uncleared air being connected to the waste discharge of the aforesaid apparatus to utilize the force of the discharge blast thereof to induce an air flow through the auxiliary duct and its branches.

2. In an air-conditioning apparatus, in which foreign suspended matter is cleared from an area of a forced stream of air passing through the same-and the force of the air blast is utilized to deliver the cleared air and to discharge the separatedforeign matter as waste through separate outlets, an auxiliary supply duct provided with means for clearingcontained foreign matten'from an area of anair stream passingrthroughthesame and having separate. outlet. branches for. the cleared air and the uncleared air, the. branch for the cleared air connecting With the cleared; air outlet of the aforesaid apparatusv andthe branch for the uncleared air being connectedito the 'waste discharge thereof, to utilize the waste. discharge as a main actuating force to. induce an air flow through the auxiliary duct and its branches.

3. In an air-conditioning apparatus in-whichra main duct is employed having means thereinifor centrifugally separating the: contained foreign matter from a forced. stream of' air passing through the-same and there is provision for taking off the cleared'air by a connected deliveryduct and for discharging the separated foreign matter as waste through the outlet end of the 'mainduct, an auxiliary duct open at the inlet end for the entrance of air and branched-at the'outlet end,

one branch leading to the waste discharge section of the main duct and the other branch tothe cleared air delivery 'duct thereof, the arrange.- ment being such as to utilize'the force ofthe waste discharge through the main duct to induce a fiow of air through the auxiliary duct and its branches, the auxiliary duct having suitable means therein for centrifugally clearing the'air passing through the same of foreign matter. for delivery through the aforesaid branches.

4. Means for removing suspended foreign matter from the central area of a forced stream of laterally confined air and collecting and deliver.- ing the cleared air to a room or other enclosed space, comprising a main air duct open at the ends for the passage-of a stream of air, a powerdriven element in the main duct for. maintaining a flow of air through the same, means in the duct for. centrifugally clearing the central area of the air stream of foreign matter, a clean air:delivery duct into which the cleared air is forced by the power-driven element, the said'delivery duct being of smaller diameter than the main duct and opening centrally into the same to provide. an annular space between them for the passage and discharge of dust-laden air, and an auxiliary duct open at its inlet end for the entrance of air and branched at the outlet end, one branch leading to the waste discharge section of themain duct and the other branch to the cleared air delivery centrifugally clearing the air of foreign matter file of this patent:

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS for delivery through the aforesaid branches. Number Name Date EUGENE JOSEPH CANTIN- 532,144 Day Jan. 8, 1895 789,049 Middleton May 2, 1905 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,209,339 Knight July 30, 1940 The following references are of record in the 2,393,112 Lincoln Jan. 15, 1946 

